Yesterday, the government approved the full package of universal health insurance through a written vote. This was announced Friday at the Armenian government cabinet session by Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan, who added that the package has already been sent to the National Assembly.

“We have approved this legislative package for urgent discussion because we have worked on this reform for three years, also with the ruling party faction in the National Assembly. It has been discussed, circulated multiple times. Essentially, we have a consensus, the draft is agreed upon, which, of course, may still undergo certain changes in the National Assembly,” Avanesyan added.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, noted, “The perception was that perhaps it does not need to be introduced [in Armenia] from January 1, but at a later date. I am not in favor of that. It is clear that we all have certain tensions, concerns about how the system will start to operate. But our experience shows that reform begins at the point where people face it in real life, when they go, encounter the problem. Let us not have the hope that it will go smoothly from the first seconds. That does not happen; it simply does not happen in nature.

Therefore, we have already postponed it. Last year we were supposed to adopt it on January 1, this year on July 1, but each time it was postponed due to these concerns. Now it has reached a point where we have postponed it, and we cannot postpone it any longer.”

Also, Pashinyan called for focusing on the problems, not the advantages, since the benefits will become visible over time. “In some statements, there is mention of comprehensive health insurance. The insurance is not comprehensive; that is, it will not cover all possible healthcare expenses.

The insurance system will include everyone, but it will not include everyone starting from January 1; this is only the first phase. And even starting from January 1, those who are included will not have everything covered, not all services will be covered. Even among the included services, there are many services that will not be fully covered, but financial support will be provided for certain parts, allowing citizens some flexibility as well,” the Armenian PM said.